Schneider's Fuel School
These days, Schneider National addresses fuel efficiency from every conceivable angle, from detailed monitoring of driver behavior to constant research.
"We're testing equipment in wind tunnels every day as it relates to the aerodynamics of the equipment, to make certain that we're getting maximum fuel performance," said Schneider's Todd Jadin.
But fuel efficiency is hardly a new idea in the big orange fleet.
Jadin said that in the 1970s — a decade of fuel crises preceding today's sophisticated monitoring technology — the company faced the prospect of fuel rationing.
"So what Al Schneider, Don's father (Don Schneider is the current chairman of Schneider National) did, was start a fuel school. He brought in all of the drivers and talked to them."
Schneider urged drivers to go slower and idle less, while the firm prodded manufacturers for more fuel-efficient engines.
"That was the precursor to everything we do today. We were managing fuel costs back in the 1970s," Jadin said.
Vendors Mentioned In This Article
• Integrated Decision Support
Richardson, Texas
• Manhattan Associates
Atlanta, Ga.
• Comdata
Brentwood, Tenn.
• Qualcomm
San Diego, Calif.
• Nexiq
Auburn Hills, Mich.
• Abbot Enterprises
Pine Bluff, Ark.
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• Centrodyne Corp. of America
South Burlington, Vt.
• PeopleNet
Chaska, Minn.
• Aether Systems
Owings Mills, Md.
• Cadec
Londonderry, N.H.
• Tripmaster
Arlington, Texas
• XATA Corp.
Burnsville, Minn.
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